Spreader foot motion for toe lasting machine



Filed June 7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 31, 1962 INVENTORS i 2' ,2 Y M Jami ilaimarzzzza July 31, 1962 J. 5. KAMBORIAN ET AL 3,046,577

SPREADER FOOT MOTION FOR TOE LASTING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTORJ Jam filial/210220712 W a"; paw/- 6 *M J fizzy;

United States Patent Ofiice Patented July 31, 1962 3,046,577 SPREADER FOOT MOTION FOR TOE LASTING MACHINE Jacob S. Kamborian, 133 Forest Ave., West Newton, Mass., and Heinz W. Stemmler, Rosliudale, Mass; said Stemmler assignor to said Kamborian Filed June 7, 1960, Ser. No. 34,563 18 Claims. (Cl. 128.8)

This invention relates to toe lasting machines of the kind shown in the pending application Serial No. 778,- 188, filed December 4, 1958 in the names of Robert B. Dunlap and Jacob S. Kamborian.

In the aforesaid machine there are wipers movable in a predetermined plane, a shoe support for holding the last with an upper and insole assembled thereon, bottom side up, in a position to be operated upon by the wipers, and spreader members mounted for movement from positions outwardly of the'last, inwardly with reference to the bottom at the toe of a shoe supported adjacent the wipers above the upstanding lasting margin, downwardly into engagement with the insole and then outwardly to spread the lasting margin outwardly against the upper surfaces of the wipers and to clamp it against the wipers preparatory to lowering the last to impart tension to the margin. In the aforesaid machine, the spreaders move in a generally elliptical path as they travel from the surface of the wipers, inwardly over the margin and back again, and since there is only a limited amount of space available at the end of the shoe the spreadersand their driving mechanism are cramped and tend to interfere with each other.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide spreaders for movement in a much more restricted path and to provide mechanismfor effecting such movement which occupies much less space so that there is less interference and repair required and so that adjustment is made easier.

The spreaders are arranged to move rectilinearly rather than elliptically, first to lower the spreaders vertically with respect to the insole from a position close to the outer side of the last, then to move them horizontally outwardly across the margin to clamp the margin against the wipers, then to raise them perpendicularly and finally to move them inwardly across the margin above the insole, thus shortening the path of movement. To this end, each spreader is mounted for vertical movement on the forward end of a bar, which in turn is mounted for horizontal movement on the frame above and parallel to the wipers. There is a driving member and linkage on the bar movable relative thereto by movement of the drive member in one direction-initially to raise the spreader vertically away from the wipers on the bar, and when the spreader reaches a predetermined heightwise position, by further movement, to move the bar and hence the spreader feet forwardly. Movement of the driving member in the opposite direction initially effects relative movement of the linkage and hence downward movement of the spreader into engagement with the insole, and then retracts the bar, carrying the spreader with it and thus spreading the marginoutw-ardly into engagement with the wipers. More specifically, there is a gear segment pivotally mounted on the bar which is engaged with a rack on the spreader and brake means which resists free movement of the bar so that during the initial movement of the driving member the gear which is free to turn is rotated in a direction to elevate the spreader and when further rotation is stopped, further movement of the driving member overcomes the resistance of the brake means, whereupon the bar is moved forwardly. Similarly, when the driving member is retracted initial movement rotates the gear which is free to turn downwardly until the spreader contacts the insole and cannot FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the top of a toe lasting machine with the spreader feet and mechanism for operating the same mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic vertical section showing the relation of the spreader feet to he wipers and the supported shoe;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a spreader foot and its operating mechanism, showing the spreader foot in its lowermost position engaged with a wiper;

FIG. 4 is a'corresponding view showing the spreader foot in its upper and forward position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section showing one of the brakes for the bar;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the shoe, wipers and shoe support;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the control for the spreader foot; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of the arrangement for operating the spreader feet in synchronisrni Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the top plate 14 of a toe lasting machine of the kind disclosed in the aforementioned application. The plate mounts a pair of wipers 1212 for movement in a horizontal plane relative to the bottom of a last L supported bottom side up on a shoe support comprising a toe rest 14 as diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. An air motor 13 is connected to the wipers for moving them horizontally, and an air motor 15 is connected to the shoe support for moving it vertically.

As herein shown (FIG. 1) there are three spreader assemblies 16 mounted on the top plate 10 of the machine, arranged to support three spreader feet 18 and their operating mechanism around the toe of the shoe, symmetrically with respect to the opening between the wipers, one of which is situated at the tip end and the other two of which are spaced laterally on either side. Each assembly is designed to move, the foot 18 in a rectilinear path, as shown in FIG. 2, from a starting point above the insole S of the shoe downwardly into engagement with the shoe, horizontally outwardly of the insole to fold the lasting margin across the wiper 12, vertically upward and horizontally back to the starting point. i for supporting each spreader for movement in this fashion is shown'in FIGS. 3 and 4, it being understood that the several spreaders are identical and that while three spreaders are shown herein additional spreadersmay be open vertical way 28 covered by a front plate 30 within which there is mounted a rack bar 32. The rack bar 32 has a notch 34 at its lower end within which is fastened the leg 36 of a spreader foot 18. A bracket 38 is fastened to the upper end of the rack bar and contains a threaded opening 40 within which there is disposed a screw 42, the lower end of which is adapted, by engagement with the bar 24, to limit downward movement of the spreader foot. A gear sector 44 is pivotally mounted on a stud 46 on the lower side of the bar 24, adjacent the rack with its teeth engaged therewith, so that by pivotal movespreader foot may be moved vertically, that is, upwardly The mechanism and downwardly with respect to the bar. A stop, in the form of an inclined shoulder 48 on the bar, limits upward movement of the gear sector. Movement of the gear sector about its pivot is effected by a link 58 pivoted at one end to the gear sector in radially spaced relation to its center of rotation 46 and at its other end to a block 52 fastened to the forward end of a rod 54 protruding from a cylinder '56. The cylinder 56 is mounted at the rear side of the bracket and is supplied with air under pressure at its rear end to advance the piston rod 54 and at its forward end to retract the piston rod (see FIG. 7).

Brakes 58 (FIG. are mounted on the bar 24 for frictional contact with the walls of the guideway 22. The brakes 58, of which there are two, one at each side of the bar, comprise a cork disc 60 fastened to a metal disc 62 disposed in an opening 64 in the side of the bar, with a spring 66 behind it. The springs 66 hold the cork discs pressed against the sides of the guideway 22 within which the bar is mounted and thereby resist movement of the bar.

The bar 24 has a block 68 extending upwardly therefrom which is engageable with adjustable screws 70 to limit the forward and rearward travel of the bar.

As thus constructed, with the spreader bar in the position shown in FIG. 4, when fluid pressure is supplied to the front end of cylinder 56, the piston rod 54 will retract. This will cause gear sector 44 to swing clockwise about stud 46 until spreader foot 18 contacts insole S or screw 42 engages bar 24 whichever occurs first. Positive limiting of downward movement may be desirable with certain kinds of work to prevent an undue amount of pressure on the insole. During downward movement of the spreader foot, rearward movement of the bar 24 is resisted by brakes 58. When the spreader foot can no longer move downwardly, the resistance offered by brakes 58 is overcome and the spreader foot is moved rearwardly over the insole and wipers until block 68 engages left hand screw 70 to the position shown in FIG. 3. During this movement the lasting margin in will be folded over the wiper and will be clamped between the spreader foot and wiper as shown in FIG. 3.

When fluid pressure is applied to the rear end of cylinder 56, gear sector 44 will swing counterclockwise about the axis of stud 46 to raise the spreader foot 18 until the gear sector engages shoulder 48. During this movement, brakes 58 will resist horizontal travel of bar 24. After the gear sector has engaged shoulder 48, the resistance of brakes 58 will be overcome and the bar 24 will move horizontally until block 68 engages right hand screw 70 to move the spreader foot horizontally to the position shown in FIG. 4.

In the operation of the toe lasting machine, the shoe last with the shoe upper and insole thereon is supported on shoe support 14 with the spreader bars in the position shown in FIG. 4. The spreader bars are then lowered into engagement with the insole and moved horizontally over the wipers to fold the lasting margin against the wipers as shown in FIG. 3. With the lasting margin gripped between the spreader bars and wipers, air motor is operated to lower the shoe support and thus the last until the upper surface of the insole lies in the same plane as the lower surface of the wipers thereby stretching the upper heightwise of the last. The wipers are then moved horizontally over the insole by air motor 13 to fold the lasting margin down against the insole. As the wipers start to apply in-wiping stress to the lasting margin, the spreader bars are caused to move from the FIG. 3 position to the FIG. 4 position, thus releasing the lasting margin.

It is desirable that the movement of the spreader feet be effected synchronously with the movement of the other elements of the toe lasting machine described in the above noted application Serial No. 778,188 filed December 4, 195 8. In order to effect this movement the arrangement shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 may be utilized. In this arrangement, a motor M rotates a shaft 72 through one revolution. Cams 74 and 76 are connected to shaft 72 to rotate therewith. A switch S is positioned adjacent each cam with the switch actuator riding on the cam periphery.

As shown in FIG. 7, the switch S is of the single pole, double throw type, which in its solid line position energizes solenoid controlled valve V to admit air to the left end of cylinder 56, to cause piston rod 54 to move rightwardly. When the switch is in the dotted line position, solenoid controlled valve V is actuated to admit air to the right end of cylinder 56 to move piston rod 54 leftwardly. The control shown in FIG. 7 is provided for each of the cylinders 56 with the switches being controlled by cams 74, 76. When the switches are engaged by the cam lobes, they are in the dotted line position of FIG. 7, and at all other times they are in the solid line position.

Cam 76 is used to control the centrally located spreader and cams 74 control the spreaders located on the opposite side of the centrally located spreader. Because of the limited space available at the toe of the shoe it is desirable to actuate the spreaders in such fashion that the center spreader moves upwardly and inwardly over the margin prior to movement of the side spreaders and that the side spreaders move outwardly over the shoe and wipers immediately in advance of the center spreader. This may readily be edectuated by making the cam lobes of a size to give the desired sequence of movements.

Cams and valves driven from cam shaft 72 similar to those described above may be used to control air motors 13 and 15 to operate them in synchronism with air motors 56.

While the "aforesaid rectilinear movement is described herein with reference to the actuation of spreader feet for a toe lasting machine, it is to be understood that it has a wider application than this and may be employed in any situation where rectilinear motion of an implement is desired.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the terms horizontal and vertical in the claims are merely descriptive of the relative movements of the parts and are not to be otherwise construed, as the bar 24 may obviously be mounted to move rectilinearly on an incline to the horizontal and the spreader foot may be mounted to move at right angles to this incline and still be encompassed by the invention.

We claim:

1. A toe lasting machine comprising wiper means, a shoe support for supporting a last with a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon bottom side up adjacent the wiper means, a spreader foot positioned above the last, spreader foot driving means, means for actuating said drive means to drive the spreader foot downwardly in a rectilinear path towards the insole and to then move the spreader foot horizontally across the insole and wiper means to clamp the upper margin against the wiper means, means for lowering the shoe support to stretch the upper heightwise of the last, means for moving the wiper means against the upper margin to fold it against the insole, and means for actuating said driving means to raise the spreader foot vertically in a rectilinear path and then move it horizontally in a rectilinear path over the last.

2. Mechanism for effecting seriatim rectilinear movement of an instiumentality comprising a rigid bar mounted for horizontal rectilinear movement, brake means associated with the bar resisting movement thereof, a foot mounted on the bar for rectilinear vertical movement, stop means associated with the foot limiting upward movement of the foot relative to the bar, and means connected to the foot for raising said foot the amount permitted by the stop means and then overcoming the brake means and moving the bar and foot horizontally.

3. Mechanism for effecting seriatim rectilinear movement of an instrumentality comprising a rigid bar mounted for horizontal rectilinear movement, brake means associated with the bar resisting movement thereof, a foot mounted on the bar for vertical rectilinear movement, and means connected to the foot for lowering said foot untilthe foot meets resistance to further downward movement and for thereafter overcoming the brake means and moving the bar and foot horizontally.

4. The mechanism, as defined in claim 3, wherein step means associated with the foot is-provided to limit downward movement of the foot relative to the bar- 5. Mechanism for eifecting seriatim rectilinear movement of an instrumentality comprising a rigid bar mounted for forward and rearward rectilinear movement, brake means associated with the-bar resisting movement thereof, a foot mounted on the bar for rectilinear vertical movement, stop means associated with the foot limiting upward movement of the foot relative to the bar, reversible drive means connected to the foot effective when driven in one direction to raise the foot relative to the bar to the extent permitted by the stop means-and then overcome the brake means'and move the bar and foot forwardly and eifective ment of the driver in the other direction will swing the gear sector about its pivot to lower thefoot until the foot i meets resistance to downward movement and then will overcome the brake and move the foot and bar rearwardly in unison. t

9. A mechanism "according to claim 8 having means for limiting the extent of the horizontal forward and rearward movement of the bar.

10. A mechanism according to claim 8 wherein the bracket has facing adjustable screws andthebar has a block thereon positioned between the screws, the engagement of the block with the screws limiting the extent of the toe portion of the last, a spreader foot driving means, 7 associated with each spreader foot, means for actuatingeach of said driving means to drive each spreader foot downwardly in a rectilinear path towards the insole and to move each spreader foot horizontally across the insole and when reversed to lower the foot relative to the bar until the foot meets resistance to further downward movement and then overcome the brake means and move the bar and foot rearwardly.

6. The mechanism, as defined in claim 5, wherein stop means associated with the foot is provided to limit'downward movement of the foot relative to the bar.

7. Mechanism for eflecting seriatim rectilinear movement of an instrumentality comprising a bracket member, a guideway in the bracket, a rigid bar member slidably mounted in the guideway for rectilinear, horizontal forward and rearward movement, a brake mounted on one of said members and engagable with the other of said members to resist movement of the bar member in the bracket member, a guideway in the bar member, a foot slidably mounted in the bar member guideway for vertical rectilinear movement, a foot actuating element movably mounted on the bar member, means connecting the actuating element to the foot to raise the foot upon movement of the actuating element in one direction and to lower the foot upon movement of the actuating element in the other direction, an abutment on the bar engagable during upward movement of the foot to limit the extent of the upward movement, and a reversible driver connected to the actuating element, whereby movement of the driver in one direction will cause the actuating element to raise the foot to the extent permitted by the abutment and then will overcome the brake and move the foot and bar element forwardly in unison and movement of the driver in the other direction will cause the actuating element to lower the foot until the foot meets resistance to downward movement and then will overcome the brake and move the foot and bar element rearwardly in unison.

8. Mechanism for effecting seriatim rectilinear movement of an instrumentality comprising a bracket, a guideway in the bracket, a rigid bar slidably mounted in the guideway for rectilinear, horizontal, forward and rearward movement, a brake mounted between the bar and bracket to resist movement of the bar in the bracket, a guideway in the bar, a foot slidably mounted in the guideway for vertical rectilinear movement, a gear sector pivotally mounted in the bar, a rack on the foot in mesh with the gear sector, said gear sector being effective when moved I wiper means to clamp the upper margin against the wiper means, means for lowering the shoe support to stretch the upper heightwise of the last, means for moving the wiper means against the upper margin to fold it against themsole, means for actuating each of said driving means to raise each spreader foot vertically in a rectilinear path and then to move it horizontally in a rectilinear path over the last, and control meansfor operating the actuating means in a predetermined sequence.

'12. A toe lasting machine comprising Wiper means, a

shoe support for supporting a last with a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon bottom side up adjacent the wiper means, a spreader foot positioned above the last, means for moving the spreader foot downwardly in a rectilinear path towards the insole and for then moving the spreader foot horizontally acros the insole and wiper means to clamp the upper margin against the wiper means,

means for lowering the shoe support to stretch the upper heightwise of the last, means for moving the wiper means against the upper margin to fold it against the insole, and means for movingthe spreader foot vertically upward in a rectilinear path and then moving it horizontally in a rectilinear path over the last, said spreader foot moving means comprising a rigid bar, means mounting the bar for come the stop means and move the bar and foot-hori zontally over the last and etfectivewhen reversed to lower the spreader foot relative to the bar until the spreader foot engages the insole and then overcome the brake means and move the bar and spreader foot across the insole and wiper means.

13. A toe lasting machine comprising Wiper means,

a vshoe support for supporting a last with a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon bottom side up adjacent the Wiper means, a spreader foot positioned above the' last, means for moving the spreader foot downwardly in a rectilinear path towards the insole and for then moving the spreader foot horizontally across the insole and wiper means to clamp the upper margin against the wiper means, means for lowering the shoe support to stretch the upper heightwise of the last, means for moving the wiper means against the upper margin to fOld it against the insole, and means for moving the spreader foot vertically upward in a rectilinear path and then moving it horizontally in a rectilinear path over the last,'said spreader foot moving means comprising a bracket member, a guideway in the bracket member, a rigid bar member slidably mounted in the guideway for rectilinear, horizontal, forward and rearward movement, a brake mounted on one of said members and engageable with the other of said members to resist movement of the bar member in the bracket member, a guideway in the bar member, said spreader foot being slidably mounted in the bar member guideway for vertical rectilinear movement, a spreader foot actuating element movably mounted on the bar member, means connecting the actuating element to the spreader foot to raise the spreader foot upon movement of the actuating element in one direction and to lower the spreader foot upon movement of the actuating element in the other direction, an abutment in the bar member engageable during upward movement of the foot to limit the extent of the upward movement, and a reversible driver connected to the actuating element effective when driven in one direction to cause the actuating element to raise the spreader foot above the wiper means to the extent permitted by the abutment and then overcome the brake and move the spreader foot and bar element in unison over the last and effective when moved in the other direction to cause the actuating element to lower the spreader foot until the spreader foot engages the insole and then overcome the brake and move the spreader foot and bar element in unison across the insole and wiper means. t

14. A toe lasting machine comprising wiper means, a shoe support for supporting a last with a shoe upper and insole assembled thereon bottom side up adjacent the wiper means, a spreader foot positioned above the last, means for moving the spreader foot downwardly in a rectilinear path towards the insole and for then moving the' spreader foot horizontally across the insole and wiper means to clamp the upper margin against the wiper means, means for lowering the shoe support to stretch the upper heightwise of the last, means for moving the Wiper means against the upper margin to fold it against the insole, and means for moving the spreader foot vertically upward in a rectilinear path and then moving it horizontally in a rectilinear path over the last, said spreader foot moving means comprising a bracket, 21 guideway in the bracket, a rigid bar slidably mounted in the guideway for rectilinear, horizontal, forward and rearward movement, a brake mounted between the bar and bracket to resist movement of the bar in the bracket, a guideway in the bar, said spreader foot being slidably mounted in the guideway for vertical rectilinear movement, a gear sector pivotally mounted in the bar, a rack on the spreader foot in mesh with the gear sector, said gear sector being effective when moved in one direction to raise the spreader foot and when moved in the other direction to lower the spreader foot, an abutment on the bar positioned to engage the gear sector when the latter is moved to raise the foot, a reciprocable driver, and a linkage connecting the driver to the gear sector, whereby movement of the driver in one direction will 10 swing the gear sector about its pivot to the extent permitted by the abutment to raise the spreader foot above the wiper means and then will overcome the brake and move the arm and foot forwardly in unison over the last and movement of the driver in the other direction will swing the gear sector about its pivot to lower the spreader foot until the spreader foot engages the insole and then will overcome the brake and move the spreader foot and bar in unison rearwardly across the insole and wiper means.

15. A mechanism according to claim 14 having means for limiting the extent of the horizontal forward and rearward movement of the bar.

16. A mechanism according to claim 14 wherein the bracket has facing adjustable screws and the bar has a block thereon positioned between the screws, the engagement of the block with the screws limiting the extent of forward and rearward movement of the bar.

17. In a toe lasting machine, wipers, means for sup porting a last, bottom side up adjacent the wipers, spreader feet for pulling the lasting margin of an upper assembled on the last outwardly against the wipers, means mounting the spreader feet in contact with the wipers and symmetrically disposed about the openings between the wipers outside of the last for movement rectilinearly relative to the plane of the wipers, power operated means for effecting such rectilinear movement of the spreaders to move the spreader at the toe inwardly over the bottom and thereafter to move the spreaders at opposite sides thereof inwardly over the bottom, and timing means for effecting said seriatirn movement of the spreader feet.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein there are cam actuated valves for effecting movement of the spreader feet in seriatim.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

